Overview of Fan Favorite Episode 579
In this episode, Brendan Schaub and Bryan Callen move between personal updates, travel talk, and a wide-ranging current-events debate. A big theme is whether life would be better in Texas than California, with the hosts venting about taxes, homelessness, crime, and the decline they feel in Los Angeles. The conversation also dives into hospitality, coffee snobbery, cancel culture, the coronavirus response, major crime stories, and a handful of viral headlines.
Texas, California, and the “Move Out” Debate
The hosts spend a lot of time talking about a recent trip to San Antonio/Austin and the idea of leaving California for Texas.
Main points
- Brendan says he’s very open to buying property and possibly moving to Texas.
- They argue that California’s taxes, homelessness, and politics have made life harder for families.
- Texas is framed as offering:
- more land
- lower taxes
- better value for money
- a better environment for raising kids
- They jokingly imagine buying a ranch, raising bulls, milking cows, and having a football field in the yard.
Their broader complaint
- They say progressive cities and states have failed to manage:
- homelessness
- crime
- taxation
- public services
- They repeatedly contrast that with what they see as Texas’s advantages.
Hotel Emma, Coffee, and Travel Talk
A big chunk of the episode is a detailed, enthusiastic discussion of Hotel Emma in San Antonio.
What they liked
- They both loved Hotel Emma and described it as one of the most beautiful places they’ve ever stayed.
- They praised:
- the atmosphere
- the architecture
- the bathrooms
- the overall “old-world” charm
What they disliked
- They repeatedly roast the hotel’s coffee, calling it sour and overly citrusy.
- They argue the hotel should offer both light and dark roast options.
- They also mention Black Rifle Coffee as a better fit nearby.
Culture War, Cancel Culture, and Identity Politics
The episode contains a long, energetic discussion about cancel culture and Hollywood politics.
Topics covered
- Voice actors stepping away from roles that portray characters of another race
- The idea that acting should be talent-based, not race-based
- Corporate virtue signaling
- Public “gestures” that don’t actually solve real problems
Their stance
- They strongly argue that actors should be able to play roles regardless of race if they’re the best fit.
- They criticize the idea that symbolic actions in Hollywood fix deeper societal issues.
- They say people and corporations are often more concerned with optics than real change.
Related commentary
- They also discuss monument removal and historical judgment, arguing that context and intent matter.
- Their point is that rewriting history or “canceling” everything from the past doesn’t improve society.
Crime, Justice, and Dark Web Stories
A major section of the episode turns into a true-crime and cybercrime discussion.
Golden State Killer
- They talk about the Golden State Killer documentary and how horrifying his crimes were.
- They highlight:
- his sadism
- the number of victims
- the fact that he was a police officer
- They also discuss how DNA eventually helped solve the case.
Silk Road / Ross Ulbricht
- The conversation shifts to Ross Ulbricht, creator of Silk Road.
- They debate whether his punishment was excessive.
- They discuss:
- the dark web
- cryptocurrency
- drug trafficking
- murder-for-hire allegations
- One key disagreement in the conversation is whether Ulbricht’s alleged hit orders justify the life sentence plus additional decades he received.
Overall takeaway
- They’re fascinated by how law enforcement uses digital investigations and sting operations.
- They also note how some criminals get away with horrible acts for years, while others are made into examples.
COVID, Public Health, and the Ongoing Pandemic Debate
COVID is a recurring background topic throughout the episode.
What they discuss
- LA bar closures and shutdowns
- The tension between public health restrictions and the economy
- Disagreement with how media and officials are framing the situation
- Brendan getting a COVID test before seeing his parents
Tone of the discussion
- The hosts are skeptical of continued restrictions.
- They feel the response is politically driven and inconsistent.
- They note the emotional and economic toll on everyday people.
News Roundup and Viral Stories
The episode also runs through a series of smaller headline-style stories.
Stories mentioned
- Cam Newton signing with the Patriots
- They see it as a smart move for both sides.
- They discuss his injuries and the incentive-based deal.
- Domestic abuse checks in China before marriage
- They react positively to the idea of screening for abuse history.
- Sacha Baron Cohen crashing a right-wing rally
- They describe it as a clever stunt and likely part of a show.
- Egyptian belly dancer jailed over social media posts
- They note how harsh the punishment is.
- Starbucks mask dispute
- They side with the employee and criticize the customer for posting him online.
- Armed homeowners facing protesters
- They argue strongly for defending private property.
- Mexico cartel weapons bust
- They react to the scale of cartel firepower and violence.
Key Takeaways
- The episode is largely a free-form conversation about leaving California for Texas, with strong criticism of state politics and homelessness.
- The hosts are very positive about Hotel Emma but extremely negative about the coffee.
- A long part of the show is devoted to cancel culture, identity politics, and historical revisionism.
- They spend significant time on true crime and cybercrime, especially the Golden State Killer and Ross Ulbricht.
- COVID and shutdown politics remain a major frustration point.
- The episode blends personal banter, news commentary, and cultural arguments in the usual loose, conversational style of the show.